Thirteen senators have co-sponsored a resolution of disapproval of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) order that would expand the Universal Service Fund (USF) to subsidize Wi-Fi hotspots for off-campus use by students.
The press release from Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz’s office says that the resolution of disapproval was brought under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) and would “nullify” the FCC’s order, which was promulgated last July.
The resolution says that the Communications Act limits USF funds exclusively to classroom activities and “poses serious risk to children’s online safety and parental rights” because online equipment used in this way is inherently unsupervised and could lead to students’ viewing of inappropriate content.
The press release says that the FCC doesn’t require parental consent for their children to participate and “puts no overall limit on the amount of federal dollars that can be expended on the hotspots.” It adds that the current rules lack means-testing and allows duplication of services with other broadband subsidization programs.
In its July open meeting, the FCC voted 3-2 to expand the Universal Service Fund (USF) Schools and Libraries program — also known as the E-Rate program — to support Wi-Fi hotspot “lending.” Brendan Carr, who is now FCC chairperson, was one of the “no” votes.
“Every parent of a young child or teenager either worries about, or knows first-hand, the real dangers of the internet. The government shouldn’t be complicit in harming students or impeding parents’ ability to decide what their kids see by subsidizing unsupervised access to inappropriate content,” Cruz said in the press release.
“I am proud to lead my colleagues in taking this critical step to reverse the Biden FCC’s overreach and put parents back in control of their children’s online access.”
In addition to Cruz, senators co-sponsoring the Wi-Fi hotspot resolution are Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) John Curtis (R-UT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Roger Wicker (R-MS.), and Todd Young (R-IN).
In August, Larra Clark — Deputy Director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Public Policy and Advocacy Office and Deputy Director of the Public Library Association — told Telecompetitor that Wi-Fi hotspot library lending programs are complements to permanent home connections, not a replacement.
